Audio: Will remain neutral, won't back MR: Maithri

2015-07-14 12:32:53

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President Maithripala Sirisena said he would remain neutral at the general election and won’t back former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

He said that he is against Mr. Rajapaksa and that there are many seniors he could appoint as Prime Minister in the event the SLFP wins at the general elections. He said that irrespective of the party that comes to power, he wants those who could carry his pledges forward to be elected.

President Sirisena said that he was totally against the granting of nominations to Mahinda Rajapaksa, and said that Mr. Rajapaksa would lose the upcoming general elections similar to his loss on January 8.

He said that this is not the fault of Mahinda Rajapaksa but due to the system introduced by J.R. Jayawardena. Following a long and stony silence, President Sirisena finally addressed the nation and said that he is aware of the ‘insults’ hurled at him during the past two weeks.

“There has not been a President who has been insulted like I have been” he said addressing the media. He said that this was the vibrancy of the freedom enjoyed by Sri Lankans post January 8 and said that he is aware of what would have befallen those who had made such insults prior to the Presidential election.

He further defended his decision to take over the leadership of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) saying that the decision paved the way for constitutional reform which would not have been possible.

“If Mahinda Rajapaksa was the leader, these reforms would not have been possible” he said. The speech which commenced a short while ago at the Presidential Secretariat is continuing.

Comments - 36

Massdeen Tuesday, 14 July 2015 18:16

Whatever said and done the President has let down the people who voted for him for sake of one person

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Bala Tuesday, 14 July 2015 18:37

Regret I have a different view. My3 is a gentleman to the core and a very sincere man who was surrounded by vultures who wanted to get back MR at any cost - damn the nation. They wanted first to cover their misdeeds of the past and see if they could abuse the people and voters again. So sad for the mighty SLFP.

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Real Peace Wednesday, 15 July 2015 11:57

I love this speech, but does this speech violate our election laws?

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assupisela Tuesday, 14 July 2015 18:31

Yes we all know M.R. will LOOSE THE DEFEAT. thank you for the brave decision. to make M.R. PM candidate.

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Sunil Tuesday, 14 July 2015 18:57

This speech will help MR a lot-now the patriots will wake up and help MR

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Lawry Tuesday, 14 July 2015 18:32

Does not matter. A majority of those who voted refused to believe President MS will go against them. The neutral stance is great. We still respect him.

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Kasturi Tuesday, 14 July 2015 18:32

Whatever said and done , in your interest party came first before 6.2 million people who trusted and voted for you ?

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Ashok Tuesday, 14 July 2015 18:41

Respect you Sir. via DM Android App

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Bippity Boppity Boo Tuesday, 14 July 2015 18:41

Please do not criticise my simple and great President. He risked his life on January 08, 2015. Now we have peace in the country. This speech will make the tide against MR a tsunami. Ranil too acted very badly being a head of a minority government with no peoples mandate. Raping up all, let us put our shoulders together and make the January 08 victory move forward. Please Please

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SidathB Tuesday, 14 July 2015 18:52

Could be a Guinness Book Record.The weakest and timidest President with out any policy or standard !!!

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roofes Tuesday, 14 July 2015 18:53

The president has not let his people down but being an example to all Sri lankans showing what good governance is all about. If he misused the power he has he would never let MR take part in this election. ms is letting law be law and as a result MR is taking Part.

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Dr Anantharaja Tuesday, 14 July 2015 18:56

You are great sir. We are with you. You are one of the pearls that mother Sri Lanka ever produced.

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Manel Tuesday, 14 July 2015 18:58

Yes but he had to counter a coup that was to be launched to remove Rani in parliament. Details are yet sketchy but at the end of the day some credit should go to MY3 for removing the despot.

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piyal Tuesday, 14 July 2015 21:52

Great UNPer...

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Martin Tuesday, 14 July 2015 22:06

Thanks to this great speech the SLFP will get MORE votes so there is MORE chance that the worst nightmare scenario will happen: MR back in the bench. Yes Sirisena is a true gentleman but also a little naive letting the Lion King out of his cage

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Parakrama Tuesday, 14 July 2015 22:18

Simply Great. You have told the inside working of the corrupt and despicable people who wanted to bring Mahinda to drag down us to the dark ages

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Ziyard Zain Wednesday, 15 July 2015 04:42

Well said Mr. President, good luck !.

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Yapa Wednesday, 15 July 2015 04:46

Nominating a corrupt person to the list is what MS avoided answering.The civil society was lead down badly.

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Thurai Wednesday, 15 July 2015 04:59

Is August 17th election going to be a modern version of the epic Mahabharata war?

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Gowtham Wednesday, 15 July 2015 05:20

After you become a president only I was feeling me as a SriLankan. Because you are a genuine man who is not biased to any community or party. Some extremist are trying to deviate your Vision.

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Mr. Impartial Wednesday, 15 July 2015 05:42

Many more dogs will bark down the road. You have proved that you have the moral strength and courage to withstand odds and look beyond for the sake of building a truely independant and prosperous country. People will deal with MR and the gang at the elections. My worry is to which extent RW will cooperate with you. To be frank he did not reciprocate and help you . In the last analysis he was playing politics. He thought of himself and the party.but not what is good for the country. He proved through Central Bank issue that he is no second to MR. So in future please ensure that he too is dealth with when he commit wrong. To that extent please be neutral. Budhu Saranai.

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Jim Kuru Wednesday, 15 July 2015 05:49

You are a true Leader

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Sana Wednesday, 15 July 2015 09:14

First president in the history of politics who said that his party will lose and should be defeated. So much for a "stance"! lol

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PAM Wednesday, 15 July 2015 09:21

Unbelievably spineless and weak present ever elected in the world. This man has no value base and principles

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Ranjith kumarasinghe Wednesday, 15 July 2015 09:31

we have a president who loves the peoples of sri lanka .Thank you sir thousand time Kumar

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TAMIL Wednesday, 15 July 2015 10:44

I was born and brought up in fully LTTE controlled area, Anyhow, 3 decade bloody war was ended (2009/05/18) with massive lost of Civilians Army LTTE members. Even though there was a lost, That day I was feeling like, at least my son or next generation can study and live peacefully with all the other races as a brothers and sisters. Also I was dreaming about my Grade 1 school book which was visualized with 4 children from all different races holding the country flag. But all my dream was faded after 5 years of long waiting for MR to fill the racial gap, That Goon MR was arranging his own hidden players to make more gaps between the minorities and majorities. That man does not want the peace in SriLanka, He need more Prabakarans to keep his president position

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TAMIL Wednesday, 15 July 2015 10:44

Honorable MY3 sir, You are the man does not follow anyone and standing for all the community, you can make the paradise, Please do something against to the extremists including TNA, BBS..

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Mason Wednesday, 15 July 2015 10:54

You betrayed the people who voted you to power by giving nomination to Mahinda Rajapakse. Besides him many other undesirables have also been given nomination. Should Rajapakse win and if he wants to, no power on earth could stop him becoming the PM. You put the party, SLFP ahead of the country. You conveniently forgot the UNP and other parties that came together to help you win

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Vasa Wednesday, 15 July 2015 11:21

Your Excellency Maithripala Sirisena,you are a great Statesman worthy of being the President of our country that has restored Democracy .The entire country is aware of those who have plundered the valuable resources of our land.4 have been hidden the balance will have to hide after 17 th August.

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upali Wednesday, 15 July 2015 11:21

You have done two blunders. First is giving nomination to MR and the second is making this statement by empowering MR to lead the campaign. If MR wins you have no option because you are an ardent support of democracy. Now all SLFP members will rally round MR with those few MPs who supported you in the last govt.

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Lalith Wednesday, 15 July 2015 11:23

You are the leader of the party. So how come you going to be neutral?

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Senavi Wednesday, 15 July 2015 11:52

The best speech that I have ever heard. There were very cunning politicians. But you are a very intelligent and think not only for the good of the party but also for the good of the country. Some criticised you because they coudnt understand why you did it. Now people may understand. You can take this country along correct path. Best luck!!

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Nandun Wednesday, 15 July 2015 12:00

You are a great Man

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Sam Samarasinghe Wednesday, 15 July 2015 12:37

Well said Mr. President. MR is finished.

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MMIRFAN Wednesday, 15 July 2015 13:39

It seems the Former President withdraw his Candidate application from EC and the public. its 100% sure.

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Prem Nath Wednesday, 15 July 2015 13:42

Election campaigning,RW will never live up to his promises.

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